Our Women's 1st Team's season has so far been defined by drawn games. They have secured three excellent points from fixtures against Dundee Wanderers, Western Ladies and Grove Menzieshill but rue the same outcome against Hillhead and CALA, sides that they will feel they should have beaten. On Saturday they play Watsonians in Edinburgh (1500) off the back of two excellent performances: away to Kelburne and at home to Grove. If they are to begin to take maximum points from the teams below them then this is the place to start.
Kaz is characteristically confident. "We have played very well this season and made the step up in quality from last year. We have one or two new players who have bedded in well but what is pleasing for me is seeing how the younger players in the squad have kicked on. It is great for them and for the club when we give youngsters the chance and they take it. Given how well we are playing and the strength of the squad I want a win on Saturday."
Another coach expressing satisfaction at the progress of the younger members of his squad is Harry. "Losing to Kelburne at the weekend was obviously a disappointment, However, on Sunday we won 9-0 in the cup and both James and I were delighted at how the youngsters showed up. They all got a lot of time and several of them scored. Joe McConnell, Fabien Goldie and Rob Harwood are integral members of the squad already but the likes of Robbie Miller, Nikky Homfrey, Luke Cranney and Murray McDiarmid all came in and performed very, very well."
The boys have another busy weekend. On Saturday they host Inverleith (1200), a team currently third bottom, before welcoming Edinburgh University to Auchenhowie on Sunday (1400). The students are perhaps the division's surprise package this season sitting fifth. With just five points seperating the top six sides, though, all it takes for wholesale changes in league position is a couple of big results. For the record, Western are currently third.
Glasgow Green sees back-to-back Kelburne games for our Men's 2s and 3s. The 2s play Kelburne 2s at high noon in what should be a very good game. Kelburne have yet to drop a point and are at home so must be favourites. That said, Western take as strong a side as we've seen from them this season and will certainly fancy themselves to cause an upset. Our 3s are another team with a 100% record (yes, we do mention that twice a week) and they will face a stern test away to Kelburne 3s (1330). This is the first of four important games for Western in the next couple of weeks.
The 4s were gutted only to draw at Giffnock last week and aim to get back to winning ways at home to Dumfries (1030). A win would see Western leapfrog the visitors into third place. The 5s have the graveyard shift at home to Hillhead 6s (1630). Richard may be a little concerned at how his side's league position has slipped in the last couple of weeks so a win here would be good.
The Women's 2s are at home to Argyll in what could be a competitive game (1500). A very encouraging development in this one is the inclusion of Rona Stewart in the squad as she makes her comeback after a year out with – and surgery on - a knee injury. Here’s hoping it goes well and she’s back with the 1s soon. The 3s host Blue Sox (1330) and should take confidence from their spirited 3-1 win on Sunday.
Yet another busy day at Auchenhowie, then. With Liverpool – Chelsea on TV at lunchtime and Wales - Australia and Scotland – Argentina in the rugby over the course of the afternoon, we’d recommend making a day of it.